Amateur Radio & Satellite Communication Promoted in MAPCON 2023 at Ahmedabad (Gujarat) INDIA

Dear Hams,

Amateur Radio & Satellite Communication was promoted in the prestigious MAPCON 2023 Conference at Ahmedabad - Gujarat INDIA from 12 to 14 December 2023.


AMSAT-INDIA team of Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP, Shyama Vagadia VU3WHG at MAPCON 2023 Ahmedabad (Gujarat) INDIA

It was an international platform for sharing of research, technologies in the field of microwaves and antennas, wherein many national/international eminent personalities shared their vision, expertise and knowledge. MAPCON-2023 carried various technical sessions, invited talks, workshops, tutorials, special sessions, student design competitions, industry sessions and state of the art Exhibition. Participants include researchers and leaders of IEEE Antenna & Microwave community, defence & Space industry partners & Startups, Academia and eminent speakers from Government organisations like ISRO, SAC, IN-SPACe etc.


Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP, Shyama Vagadia VU3WHG at Ham Radio stall at MAPCON 2023 Exhibition. Displaying Full Range of Radio equipment accessories and Portable Satellite Ground Station. Shyama is B.Tech ICT Student from Marwadi University, Rajkot.

Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP (Regional Coordinator of AMSAT-INDIA) was invited by Shri Rajeev Jyoti Sir (Director IN-SPACe) & MAPCON 2023 Committee for MAPCON Exhibition and promote Amateur Radio & Satellite Communication for educational purpose. Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP & team member Shyama Vagadia VU3WHG (B.Tech. - ICT 4th sem student of Marwadi University, Rajkot) successfully participated in the MAPCON Exhibition for 3 days from 12 to 14 Dec 2023. We were allocated a decent sized stall of 3x3m with standard facilities. It was a huge event - renowned exhibitors/leaders from different industries took part in this exhibition. We were the invited exhibitor for educational awareness on Amateur radio & satellites. We properly planned & carried a range of Amateur Radio equipment to display from CW keys to portable satellite communication ground station! We were aware that visitors would be from different segments such as; professionals, researchers, Scientists, Industrialist, IIT Students etc. Every person could have interest in different Amateur radio stuff or application so we exhibited whole spectrum of stuff incl HF, VHF, UHF Radios, HTs, SDR Radio, RTL-SDR, Base Station, Antenna, PSU, Coax, Connectors, Test Instruments, SWR Meters/RF Power Meter, NanoVNA, Antenna Tuner, Diplexer, Logbook, Call Books, QSL Cards, Awards, Cube Satellite model etc stuff to give close idea of the Ham Radio equipments we use in our radio shack and field!


Exhibitors, Students, Visitors at Amateur Radio Stall. Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP discussion with PDEU University Professor Gangaprasad Pandey. Shyama Vagadia VU3WHG interact with Student visitors during MAPCON 2023 Exhibition.

Informative posters, banners & all our radio stuff along with live presentation on Big TV screen was kept at our stall to give a glimpse of our amateur radio activity. The educational approach from our team helped most visitors to satisfy their queries and gain knowledge on various topics of our fascinating hobby. IIT Students and faculties from different institutions showed keen interest in Amateur radio club activity and Student Satellite programme. Many Scientists, professionals & communication expert appreciated our presence to spread awareness for our scientific hobby keeping us engaged to learn experiment & enjoy the core theme of MAPCON i.e. Microwave (RF here), Antenna & Propagation!


Gracious visit of MAPCON 2023 Chief Guest and former ISRO Chairman Shri A S Kiran Kumar Sir at our Stall of Amateur Radio Satellite Communication Awareness. Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP and Shyama Vagadia VU3WHG warmly welcome and brief A S Kirankumar Sir about our AMSAT-INDIA activity and educational projects.


A S Kirankumar Sir and former ISRO Chairman appreciated our educational approach to promote Amateur Radio & Satellite Communication. VU2EXP Rajesh Vagadia presented a book Gateway to Ham Radio to Kiran Kumar Sir as a token of compliment! (Book credit VU2JIM)

Chief Guest of an event and former ISRO Chairman A. S. Kiran Kumar Sir did visit the exhibition/our stall and spent some time understanding our Amateur radio & AMSAT-INDIA activities. We put it into their kind notice of two Amateur Radio payloads collaborated by AMSAT-INDIA (1) HAMSAT - VO52 launched in 2005 carrying linear transponder (2) AISAT Digipeater integrated in 4th stage of PSLV Rocket body, launched in 2019 (experimental initiative from ISRO). We also highlighted the role of The Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI) and its activity. Shri Kiran Kumar Sir took note of our educational activities . Me & Shyama VU3WHG were delighted to welcome A. S. Kirankumar Sir, we presented a book 'The Gateway To Ham Radio' to him as a token of compliments (book credit to VU2JIM).


Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP warmly welcome Shri Rajeev Jyoti Sir Director IN-SPACe along with MB Mahajan Sir, Sanjeev Kulshrestha ISRO. It was warm and positive response from Shri Rajeev Jyoti Sir for us for all our huge efforts to exhibit full range of working radio stuff. He also took good note of our working Portable Satellite Ground Station kept at the display!

Friendly Discussion with IN-SPACe Director Rajeev Jyoti Sir and Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP Regional Coordinator, West India Zone, AMSAT-INDIA. Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP Presenting a Ham Radio Book to Shri Rajeev Jyoti Sir as token of compliments. (Book Credit VU2JIM).

Also Shri Rajeev Jyoti Sir (Director IN-SPACe) was warmly welcomed to our stall, I thanked him for supporting & offering our stall to create awareness on our radio & satellite activity. He spared a good time at our stall, they appreciated our efforts and the range of working radio stuff we highlighted for all visitors. Sir also took good note for our small portable Satellite ground station consisting of a tripod, dual band Arrow II antenna, 2 HTs for RX - TX in full duplex configuration, Headphone/mic, audio recorder, tracking device, with manually aiming arrangement for Azimuth, elevation & polarisation! This was the least expensive yet working ground station for Amateur radio (FM/LEO) satellites throughout the MAPCON 2023 Exhibition! hi..hi.. We presented a book 'Gateway To Ham Radio' to shri Rajeev Jyoti Sir as a token of compliments (Book credit to VU2JIM).

We had great interaction with many exhibitors, researchers, professors from various institutions and exchanged views that a lot more radio & satellite activities / projects could be worked out for the benefit of the society. We simply conveyed how common man from any walk of life can become Ham radio operator and gradually improve their skill to have digital communication, contesting, activating - special callsign and how they enjoy IOTA, Lighthouse, Hilltop, ARISS SSTV event, tracking & working OSCAR Satellites! And all this activity is enjoyed by global Amateur radio operators. This simple yet effective message appeals to most visitors.


Nikhil Arora Sir from IN-SPACe received a Ham book from Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP. Shyama Vagadia VU3WHG meets former ISRO Chairman A S Kirankumar Sir at MAPCON 2023 Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

We also had gracious presence of Shri Hanumanth Rayappa Sir (Director, Satcom PO, ISRO HQ), Shri Vaibhav Sir (ISRO), Shri Milind Mahajan Sir (SAC/ISRO), Sanjeev Kulshrestha (SAC/ISRO), Shri Nikhil Arora Sir (IN-SPACe), Shri Pratik Mevada Sir (SAC/ISRO), Prof. Gangaprasad Pandey (PDEU, Gandhinagar) etc. We had good talks on various Amateur satellites & projects. For specific queries, from ISRO Scientists, on our previous AMSAT-INDIA missions, I connected to Maniji VU2WMY & Nitin VU3TYG for precise explanation, I thank both of my AMSAT fellow friends.

During exhibition we had very good eyeball with hams including Prof. S.P Bhatnagar Sir VU2SPF, Jinofar Bhujwala VU2JJJ, Manojbhai Suthar VU2EHY, VU3RGP Rakesh & Jayshankar VU2JAA. I am thankful to VU2SPF & VU2JJJ for all the support they extended.


Great Eyeball with VU2SPF SP Bhatnagar Sir, Jayshankar VU2JAA, VU3RPG Rakesh and Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP at our Amateur Radio promotional Stall in MAPCON 2023 exhibition at Ahmedabad Gujarat.

It was a great time for us to be in this top conference for professionals yet representing as Amateurs! Big thanks to the MAPCON 2023 Committee for providing us with such a platform.

I specially thank my niece & team member Shyama Vagadia VU3WHG (B.Tech ICT 4th semester, Marwadi University, Rajkot) for all support & assistance from the beginning. Shyama also remains a member of the Student Satellite project team from Marwadi University and a student member of IEEE Gujarat Chapter. For her it was also a memorable experience to meet all living legends of the Indian space & research organisation of India (ISRO). I thank Shri B. A. Subramani Sir VU2WMY, Nitin Muttin VU3TYG & all members of AMSAT-INDIA for detailed follow up, guidance and support to make our participation notable.

I equally thank Ramesh Kumar VU2LU & Krishna Kumar VU2YUU from ARSI for their respective guidance & support.


Shyama Vagadia VU3WHG youngest invited exhibitor member joined with Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP. former ISRO scientist liked the list of OSCAR Satellites kept on display.

We tried our best to cultivate the seeds (of amateur radio), hoping to get some fruitful results!

Thank you all.

73
Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP
Rajkot - Gujarat (INDIA)
Regional Coordinator
West India Zone
AMSAT-INDIA
M: +91-9898283916
E: vu2exp@gmail.com
www.qrz.com/db/vu2exp

 

Thanks a lot for your efforts in popularisung our hobby. Your stall looks like top class. You have done lots of work in making this stall. Ham community need to appreciate your efforts and time given for this grand display of our hobby.

 

Thank you Rajeshji for the wonderful eyeball at MAPCON 2023. Your contribution to popularize our beloved hobby is indeed commendable. Looking forward to catch up with you on the birds... 73s

 

Thank you so much Dinesh bhai VU2DCI for your encouraging words & compliments. We could carry out all activities with great moral support of our ham community.
73
Rajesh VU2EXP

 

Thank you Rakesh VU3RGP for your appreciation. It was wonderful eyeball we had during MAPCON 2023 Conference.
We shall be in touch for student satellite program/projects.
Thank you
73
Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP

 

Congratulations Rajesh for the excellent work and for the well illustrated report. I got a feel as if I was there with you in the stall! Thank you very much. 73 de VU2JO.

 

Great Job

 

Thank you Jon for your encouraging feedback. it's all about how we return back to the society.
Since a decade I had started keeping 'experimenting learning & sharing' approach! I also congratulate for nice tutorials you are making & sharing on YouTube on satellite & Amateur radio.
Wish many more active hams come forward to promote our hobby in next generation.
Thank you
73
Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP

 

Thank you Steven for dropping two words which are sufficient to motivate us for more such activities.

Btw we gone through your awesome profile page with lots of interesting details you had mentioned.

I am sorry to know you are fighting with a disease; we will pray lord Krishna to overcome it.

Thank you once again.
73
Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP

 

Keep up the great work!

 

Very nice! Do you have a shorter blurb I can use on the radio show? I love to report on these.

 

Thank you Kent K9EZ for Cheering us. We value your moral support.
Thank you
73
Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP

 

Thank you Ria N2RJ for your kind compliments. It will be our pleasure if someone like you wish to make a report for our activities, will mail you some more relevent stuff.
Btw you had extraordinary ham journey, find many things similar. Please continue promoting ham radio.
Thank you
73
Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP

 

Thank you Rajesh. If you can make a short report suitable for air, or if you want to be interviewed via zoom we can do that too.

 

Ria can you trim down this current article as per your requirement? Interview might not be comfortable as I prefer to use PTT Mic only hi..hi..
73